Gravity-latching hasp



R. W. LEDBETTER.

GRAVITY LATCHING HASP.

APPLICA'HON FILED JAN-14, 1920.

1,362, 1 7', Patented Dec. 14, 19 20.

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lea /7 M edm zer UNITED STATES RALPH W. LEDBETTER, OF ANNISTON, ALABAMA.

GRAVITY-LATGHING HASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Application filed. January 14, 1920. Serial No. 351,466.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH WV. Lnnnn'r'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anniston, in the county of Calhoun, State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gravity-Latching Hasps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to hasps and it has for its object to provide a construction having means for latching the hasp temporarily over a staple, a further object of the invention being to provide a particular construction that will be operative, whichever side of the hasp is directed toward the body that may carry the staple.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a construction embodying norivets or other supplemental means for attaching the latch to the hasp, such as increases the expense of the construction and diminishes its durability.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a hasp provided with the present latch, with the latter engaged in a staple passed through the slot of the hasp.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hasp alone.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the latch alone.

Referring to the drawings the hasp 5 is of ordinary construction, with the exception that above and parallel to the staple receiving slot 6 of it, there is formed a second and shorter, longitudinally extending slot 7.

The latch consists of a strip of sheet metal that is bent upon itself to provide the bight portion 8 and the legs 9. The legs are brought into mutual contact below the bight 8 with a resultant eye, as illustrated and beyond this eye, the legs are diverged, so as to project at substantially right angles to each other, as illustrated.

The legs of the latch are not brought into mutual contact until after the latch has been adjusted to receive within its eye, the portion of the hasp between the slot 7 and the adjacent longitudinal'edge of the hasp. The metal strip may be then bent slightly to contact the legs and prevent disengagement of the latch from the hasp, while permitting the latch to be swung freely from one side to the other of the hasp.

After the hasp has been engaged over a staple 10, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the latch drops by gravity into the opening of the staple, it being of course understood that when the hasp is held horizontally and in a vertical plane, the latch will drop by gravity so as to dispose one of its legs across the slot 6. As the staple passes into the slot, it contacts the latch leg and swings the latch upwardly and then release it so that it may drop into the staple. In this position, the other leg of the latch serves as a handle or thumb piece, by means of which the latch may be swung upwardly and out of the staple to permit withdrawal of the hasp therefrom.

It will be understood of course that the latch will operate with equal efiiciency on both sides of the hasp so that no care is required in placing the hasp, to insure a particular side of it to the rear in operation.

What is claimed is:

l. Th combination with a hasp having a staple receiving opening and a second opening between it and a longitudinal edge of the hasp, of a latch including a central eye portion pivotally embracing the material of the hasp between the second opening and the said longitudinal edge of the hasp, for movement of the latch from one side to the other of the hasp, the latch including also legs that diverge from the eye and of lengths to lie interchangeably across the staple receiving opening when the latch is at corresponding sides of the hasp, whereby to engage a staple, the legs constituting each a handle for manipulating the latch when the other leg is between it and the hasp.

2. The combination with a hasp having a staple receiving lot, of a staple engaging latch movably connected therewith for operation at both sides of the hasp interchangeably.

3. The combination with a hasp having a staple receiving slot, of a staple engaging latch pivotally connected therewith for In testimony whereof I afiix my signamovement to operative position at both sides ture in the presence of two Witnesses. of the staple interchangeably,the latch com- RALPH V LEDBETTER prising a pair of staple engaging members 5 disposed to constitute each a handle for the Witnesses: 7

other when the letter is at itstoperative side i J. H. CONNELL, of the hasp. l V .LIELY RUssEY. 

